The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

stroppy

Whathavewedone ...I also have 3 children aged 10,5 and 3 and one of my main reasons of giving up was feeling a scummy mummy!I used to hate taking my daughter into nursery and used to cover my mouth with my hand whenever talking to any of the teachers,worse thing is when you get inside a school or nursery you can smell yourself a mile off!I also used to look at all the other mums and wish I was like them....a non smoker :rolleyes:

sparrer

Hi all, just a quick update on my last post #628. I apologise as it is rather long but don't apologise for the gory details. Telling it like it really is..

I'd not been feeling too brill for a few days but as we women do, tried to ignore any symptoms and battle on..

On 24th Feb I was taken back to hospital with an infection. The doc wouldn't even come out when I spoke with her, she just called for an ambulance. (My neighbours, I hasten to add, are getting pretty complacent about blues and twos in our little cul-de-sac by now :rolleyes: ).

Diag was pneumonia, the 2nd time in 2 years, and that's not counting the 4 other lung infections...fortunately mainly in my left lung which left me with a part 'good' one to breathe with!

The most frightening moment came after the scan when I was told there's a 'sinister' shadow. Not having any family with me at that time was quite frankly terrifying - imagine if you will, laying alone in a hospital bed and a stranger telling you there's something dreadfully, perhaps mortally, wrong inside your body. That's when you really need to phone a friend...:doh:

They tried to drain the fluid from my lungs but it was too sticky, they had to stop and just zap me with every pill and potion they could lay their hands on. I was encouraged to blow my nose literally every 15 minutes, do you know how difficult that is? Poor proboscis was sore and raw for days, still looks like Frank Bruno has been practicing on it. My throat was clogged up with heaven knows what, I produced enough infected sputum to half fill one of their little pots every couple of hours.

When the cons came he assured me the word 'sinister' had been used out of context by an intern. Thank God it was only a slip of the tongue (though if I'd seen Jack-the-lad again I'd give him a lesson or two in the English language - after ripping his tongue out :mad: . And me not a violent person at the worst of times!).

A week later I was just about fit enough to be sent home before I got too institutionalised. Easy to do when you're waited on hand, foot and finger, fed three times a day, watered six times, and your pillows straightened to your own particular comfort

Now back home I'm on even more meds plus higher doses of the ones I already take, and am listenening to myself every single time I inhale - which is quite often as I find it helps with the breathing! - in case I hear the dreaded rasp again. (Also doesn't help when you're trying to catch up on a week's East Enders and you keep one ear on your lungs, figuratively speaking :rolleyes2 )

I want to go shopping just for milk but am worried as there was a light ground frost last night so I'll drink green tea instead of black today. I have a little dog, he hasn't been walked since before Christmas poor lad. I am seriously thinking that I might have to rehome my two cats, a brother and sister I've had since they were 8 weeks old. Then there's the worry of finding them somewhere together, I absolutely won't have them separated

I was advised to apply for DLA but I worked all my adult life and don't want to be a sponger. Besides, money isn't going to improve my health now, ironically I did a good enough financial job on destroying it over the past 40 years.

I just want to say thank God for the NHS. Private health care has it's place but in a true time of need the NHS should never be criticised. I was treated and cared for by complete strangers who made it their job to get me well again, some who kept the old hospital incredibly clean all day, some who fed me amazingly well, some whose jobs I don't even know but they were just there, always ready to help. I just pray we never have to end up with the American-type system :eek:. It doesn't bear thinking about...

Today I can joke but underneath I wish I could go back 40 years and start again. Oh, I do hope this has made just one person sit up and take a little notice, and even put them off lighting the cig they were about to pick up...

God bless, Sparrer x

adamsmum

Monday 09th March is my stop smoking day. My son was born with a liver disease called biliary atresia and for years I have used this as the excuse for NOT giving up, "oh I couldn't possibly give up imagine the stress when in hospital etc" BUT now I am using it as the strength to STOP. My son (11yrs old) has went through so much in his young life I want to be here for the rest of it to hold him and love him and not stink of smoke while doing it. I know he will be sooooooo proud of his mummy and the money saved will take us on a wonderful holiday.

I have given up in the past longest was for 6 weeks and failed......not due to stress but hanging with smoking friends, would not mind if it had been stress but it was pure stupidity

So I am going to come on here every day and read through all the posts and find strength in your words

TismE_3

ameliarate wrote: »

I haven't actually given up, I am on a weeks reduction in readiness (that's how I think of it), so I have cut down so far by 50% and today, hopefully, a further 25%. But, is it normal to have little voices in your head asking you questions like, well what are you going to do if you can't sleep and you can't a have a fag, or what are you going to do on holiday if you can't have a fag (quite ridiculous).

I swear it is like there is a little person in my head telling me that there is no life without fags.:mad: .

Ahhhh i remember those little voices from last time i tried to quit!! Thanks for the reminder, will be watching out for those. Yes it is quite normal !

little_lily

ameliarate wrote: »

I haven't actually given up, I am on a weeks reduction in readiness (that's how I think of it), so I have cut down so far by 50% and today, hopefully, a further 25%. But, is it normal to have little voices in your head asking you questions like, well what are you going to do if you can't sleep and you can't a have a fag, or what are you going to do on holiday if you can't have a fag (quite ridiculous).

I swear it is like there is a little person in my head telling me that there is no life without fags.:mad: .

Hi Ameliarate,

Yep, this is quite normal! Trust me, the same little voice will also:

• Tell you that smoking wasn't really that bad for you/smelly/expensive
• Ask you what the point of giving up really is - after all, loads of smokers live until they're 103 with no ill effects
• Tell you that you've got to die of something
• Tell you that you might get run over by a bus tomorrow
• Tell you that you really enjoyed smoking and that if you stop, life will be pants
• Tell you that there's no point ever booking a holiday or going for a meal out ever again because there's no way you can enjoy it without a fag

You hear this voice because you are a drug addict and your subcobnscious mind is desperately trying to trick you into giving your body a fix.

Quite, quite normal as any one who has quit will tell you. The nasty little voice has tried to trick us all. Keep visiting this site for moral support, feel free to vent when you're having a bad day and the voice is quite literally deafening you (read some of my previous posts and you'll see that I really went through it on some days!) and, most importantly:

IGNORE THE VOICE!!!!

Recognise it for what it is - something every quitter hears as you gradually overcome your addiction.

I PROMISE YOU that you can come out the other side smiling and smoke-free!!!

Sue-UU

whathavewedone wrote:

You are so right about all the firsts. Do you think there's ever a point when you can really consider yourself a non smoker as opposed to a smoker that isn't smoking?

YES!!!! :j I can answer that with an emphatic YES in the knowledge that no matter what I originally thought, I considered myself a non smoker after about 6 months, I just knew I'd never go back to THAT again!!! Well done on the way you're greeting your OH, amazing how differently we see ourselves acting when we really intend to quit for good.;) A great first on having the successful glasses of wine smoke free!!! :j Having your teeth cleaned is a real kick-start, you feel so much cleaner in every way. Try to extend bedtime by another hour or so if possible - it'll create another first!! However, if it makes things too difficult for either of you then go on up and get to sleep, it can be tackled further down the line. Keep going as you are now and........!:D

Please Tisme, don't wait until the money wrangle is over, you're in a good state of mind now, so give it all you've got and you'll soon find that quitting makes you far less stressed in general in any case, that really is true. Just think how thrilled your dad & granddad will be on thinking of you in far better health!!! Don't wait for something that might never happen anyway - it just isn't worth it! Apart from anything else you didn't have Forums to come to, threads like this one either. Come on her and give vent about your feelings - and remember - the day will come when you come on here to announce how proud you are at having quit for x amount of time! That first 24 hours is your first goal, then a week and by then you're getting SO thrilled! Keep strong, go ahead with it and live life to the best you can!:A

ameliarate, you're normal we all know that for sure as you wouldn't be if you DIDN'T have those blessed voices in your head! Still, we smoked for a good while and it's all part of the addiction, we need to adopt tactics too! :mad: They nag us all the time IF we let them, we need to shut them out, put a CD on, go for a walk and tell ourselves just how great it is to have the fresh air going into our lungs rather than that dirty smelly rubbish! See that 'voice' as a really bad friend that you're going to ignore come what may, and with every passing hour it goes further away from you. All too soon you'll wonder where it went to! Good for you with cutting right down!

Congratulations phillipsdj!!! Wonderful news and thanks so much for coming here to let everyone know. Well done with all you've saved - cash and especially health!!! :j
Well done being 3 days free stroppy!!! :T I know exactly what you mean about feeling so pleased with yourself that you could cry, it's the best thing you'll ever do and it's a complete change of life ....that will extend YOURS!!! Keep up that great strength stroppy, every day that passes gets you further to the winning line!!!! :j

Bless you for putting your sad, but very helpful, story on again sparrer. There are no end of real sufferers like you and I'll bet that if they could, each one would turn back the hands of time. However, you're doing a grand job by warning others from the terrible perils they face IF they keep on smoking. It's within us all to say enough is enough and finish before they too are a COPD sufferer ot worse! Don't forget us though, it's good to come here and help others not makr the same mistakes! Thanks so much sparrer and God Bless you and ease your suffering. BTW, my S-I-L passed away last week. All the best to your young lass.:)

Well done adamsmum for noticing all the excuses for not quitting atre just that! It was so sad to learn about your dear son, keep looking into those beautiful eyes whenever you need strength to quit and stay that way. When you stop, make a firm resolve each morning to not smoke that day and keep on that way. Keep looking ahead to just how proud he'll be of you, and what a great holiday you'll both share smoke-free. Save the money you don't spend on a pot/jar and see just how quickly it mounts up, that too will encourage you! Keep chatting to us and giving vent to your feelings. All the verybest for Monday!!!;)

Well done with more wonderful advice Lily!!! :T

Another day closer all, another day with money not wasted and getting your health back! Keep strong!

Sue

whathavewedone

Day 5 and going strong. We went to bed a bit later last night and actually chatted rather than sitting in front of the tv in silence!

I was saying to oh that I like not smelling horrible etc and he said yeah the only bad thing is not being able to smoke so I can tell that with a little encouragement from me he would be off the wagon. I said that he should remember that each day gets a bit easier and soon it will be as if we had never smoked.

It's his birthday soon and I said how nice it will be to go to a pub where we can sit inside and listen to music instead of going to the one place which has patio heaters and sitting outside with our coats on. He agreed. I'm trying to brainwash him! I am prepared for him possibly appearing with a packet of cigs on his birthday and if he does I will just say that if he wants to smoke then he can but I don't want to. Hopefully that way even if he does crack he will not carry on with it.

Good luck everyone, stay strong!!

stroppy

Day 4
Had an awful evening last night,could think of nothing but smoking and felt really miserable....didnt crack though but ended up in bed at 10 0 clock (very early for me)Had a terrible nights sleep and feel horrible today,got a coldsore on my mouth and everything aches.
All I have thought about today is smoking a cigarette.....I know its illogical but I cant stop thinking about them!HELP!!
Sorry for the negative post today but I need some encouragement I think.....
Stroppy xx

little_lily

Hi Stroppy,

So sorry to hear that you are having a bad day. I'm just into month three but can really remember one day just sitting crying my eyes out because it all seemed too hard.

Remember the old cartoons with a character with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other? You have the angel which is your rational mind and the devil which is your drug addiction. Your addiction knows that the rational mind is winning this battle and so it's kicking and screaming and doing everything it can to get you to cave in.

I know that it's really tough but all you need to do is stick it out for a while longer and you will have beaten the addiction and be free for the rest of your life. Read back over this forum and you'll see that what you're feeling is totally normal - that will definitely motivate you and inspire you to keep fighting.

I read on one website that, however unpleasant they are, withdrawal pangs cannot kill you. Smoking almost certainly will.

Keep tough, keep posting, keep reading and in such a short time, you'll be like me - totally content as a non-smoker and doing your bit to support the newbies. We KNOW you can do it.

stroppy

Thank you!:T
I feel a touch better now,I know my brain is playing tricks on me its just so tough trying to override it today......it keeps saying go on just have one....what are you going to do for the rest of your life if you dont smoke?How are you going to enjoy an evening with a glass of wine again.....?
I am ignoring it and know I would be so disappointed in myself if I had one now.
Have been to my friends house today and we always used to drink tea and chain smoke.....was really odd not smoking and bless her she didnt smoke the whole time I was there.
Anyway deep breaths and a big lunch coming up now.....:D